Research Interests: My
research interests are centered on the vertebrate response to
environmental stressors. My dissertation research investigated how
fish respond to natural and anthropogenic stressors from the
molecular to the tissue level. I am particularly interested in how
developing vertebrate embryos are affected by stressors, and I have
been deeply involved with research pertaining to the effects of the
Deepwater Horizon oil spill on adult and embryonic fish, conducting
extensive and ongoing field and laboratory-based experiments. My
core of expertise includes physiology, developmental biology,
histology, and advanced microscopic techniques.

Dissertation Project:
I am currently studying the effects
of hypoosmotic exposure on polyamine regulation in Fundulus
grandis.
Polyamines are involved in the regulation of many basic cellular
processes, such as blocking ion channels or tissue remodeling.

My research focuses on crude oil toxicity of Gulf
killifish early life stages. Particularly, I want to look at how
crude oil affects cardiovascular development during embryogenesis,
and how exposures during embryogenesis impact cardiovascular
capabilities at later life stages. I also want to investigate the
role of natriuretic peptides in developing cardiovascular systems of
embryos exposed to crude oil.

Current
Undergraduate
Students and Workers

Casey Elkins

I am a ology major with a goal of
becoming a Biomedical
Engineer. In the Aquatics-Facility, I mainly perform
routine
fish care.

Brandyn Chinn

I am a Biochemistry student and I assist
with routine fish
care. I hope to attend
medical school
in the future.

Walter Guillory II

I am a Biological Sciences senior planning to enter an
M.D./Ph.D. program. My research interests include ammonia excretion
via claudins in killifish; I am also interested in comparing the
expression of claudin genes among the killifish species.

Eben
Smitherman

I am a Biology major with the ultimate goal of
attending medical school. In the lab, I prepare samples for
microscopic imaging and assist with routine fish care.

Sydney Hebert

I am a Biological Sciences major with the hope of going into
the medical field. My research is primarily on the
effects of oil and dispersants on Fundulus grandis.